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How do the border areas prevent African swine fever?

Summary

Dealing with the high risk of infection from African Swine Fever (ASF), especially from China, the provinces that have a joint border line with China such as Lang Son and Quang Ninh, asserted that they have synchronously deployed many solutions in order to prevent this dangerous disease.

Updated on : 24-09-2018

Speaking at the online conference on the prevention of animal epidemics in the Autumn Winter season and preventing African Swine Fever (ASF) in Vietnam, organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on 14/9 in Hanoi, Mr. Dang Huy Hau, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh People’s Committee said that Quang Ninh has a coastal road with a length of over 200 km. Hence many provinces have carried out export and import activities through this route quite a lot.

In the mainland, besides the border gates, Quang Ninh also has small paths and border trails, so the risk of smuggling goods is quite high. However, with many types of diseases in general and for ASF in particular, the province is always proactive in prevention.

"Each locality has different characteristics. For Quang Ninh, the most important is the prevention of smuggling and cross-border smuggling. Quang Ninh has focused on preventing entrance by strengthening inspection and assigning tasks to local and specialized forces. After the conference, the province will have more drastic directives to include coastal, border and national highways, and if an epidemic is detected, the province will try to delineate the area for elimination," Mr. Hau said.

According to Mr. Hau, epidemic prevention was the task of the province. The work of communication must be done well. These are some of the work that Quang Ninh has been doing. In addition, the province recommended MARD to propose the Ministry of Public Security to strengthen the direction and coordination to prevent the disease. The competent forces such as the Coast Guard, customs, anti-smuggling agencies ... need close coordination. "Quang Ninh is highly committed to prevent the spread of disease through the province," Mr. Hau emphasized.

In relation to preventing ASF cross-border, Mr. Ly Quang Vinh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lang Son province, said that smuggling in general and smuggling of cross-border of animal products in particular, the province has always considered this as a major task.

"Since the beginning of the year, there has not been any business or individual who has been carrying out import procedures for pigs and pig products through the border gates of Lang Son. Lang Son is a key area for preventing avian influenza from China. We will promote our experience and results in the prevention of ASF," Mr. Vinh said.

In fact, right at the end of August, Lang Son has strengthened and tightened control at the border. Especially after the dispatch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Prime Minister about focusing on prevention of ASF in Vietnam.

The province has stepped up the control of cargo transport through the open trails and gates. At the main border checkpoints, the strengthening of controls was carried out with both the person and the merchandise for preventing the hiding of animal products in other commodities. In addition, Lang Son will also organized inspection teams in key areas at the border areas, especially the open trails.

"It is expected that next week, Lang Son province will issue a plan to prevent African cholera outbreaks in the area. We also drastically implemented the month of disinfection poisoning, as Lang Son is well aware of the risk of epidemic. We are not subjective and we will continue to strengthen," Mr. Vinh asserted.

Source: Customs News